Friction-clutch



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1. I. E. STOREY.

PRIGTION CLUTCH.

A Patented July 14, 1896.

ATTO/MIEI.

2 `Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

IQBSTOREY.

FRIGTION GLUTGH. I No. 563,989. Patented July 14, 1896.A

ATTORNEY.

` shaft is bored out from'the end to this chamber UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

IMLE E. STOREY, OE BOULDER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STOREY ELECTRIC DRILL AND POW'ER COMPANY, OF COLORADO.

CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,989, dated July 14, 1896.

Application iled J' anuary 20, 1891.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IMLE E. STOREY, acitizen of the United States, residing in Boulder, county of Boulder, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction-clutches, with special reference to what are termed hydraulic clutches.

The object of the invention is to provide a clutch adapted for all classes of work, but particularly for hoisting, which shall be very simple in operation, simple in construction, and conveniently manipulated.

The invention consists in the combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a sectional view of the device, the section being on a plane at right angles to the shaft. Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. l,and showing an operating device. Fig. 3 and A are similar views, respectively, of a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is a section showing a modified form of operating device, and Fig. 6 is a view of one of the pistons.

A represents a shaft; B, a casting keyed thereupon. This casting is circular and is provided with a number of cylinders b. As shown here there are four, but any suitable number may be employed. The cylinders are connected by a web b to give strength and symmetry to the casting, and a hub b2 is provided.

The shaft is provided with a number of radial passages or ports a, one for each cylinder, and each port registers With a radial passage communicating with the respective cylinders at the inner ends thereof, forming continuous passages. The passages all meet in the center of the shaft, wherea small concentric cylindrical chamber a is formed. The

to form a valve-chamber for a reciprocating valve a2. A stuffing-box for the valve is provided at the end of the shaft and a spring a3, located in a suitable opening, acts against a shoulder on the valve to force the valve outward. The valve-stem projects beyond the end of the shaft.'

Serin No. 378,430. (No man.)

Each cylinder Z2 is provided with a piston b3, the construction of which is shown in Fig. 6. The outer end carries a semicylindrical cross-head,for1ning one half of a socket, as will appearhereinafter. The inner end is provided with several annular grooves b4 b4, a rubber disk b5, and metal disk b, having a convex surface resting against the center of the rubber disk. The metal disk is held freely on a spindle, so that when pressure is applied from the inside it will force the rubber disk to expand radially and pack the piston. The grooves also aid in packing the pistons.

C is a Wheel adapted to be driven from any source of power and through any style of gearing. It is here represented as a gearwheel, to which motion is transmitted through a pinion C. This wheel has its bearing upon the extended hub of the casting B or upon the shaft. The bearing, however, is loose, and the wheel is free to turn independently of its shaft. Upon one side of the wheel an annular liange cis formed. The flange stands at right angles to the plane of the wheel, and a circular plate or disk c is bolted to its outer edge, thus inclosing the space within the flange. The disk has a loose bearing upon the extended hub of the casting B or upon the shaft. The circular inner wall of the iiange c is eccentric to the shaft A and has. a ground or smooth surface. The eccentricity is shown clearly in Fig. l. The wheel C, the liange c, and disk c therefore inclose or form a circular chamber eccentric to the shaft A. Within this chamber, as shown, the casting B with the pistons is located. The outer end or cross-head of each piston connects with a segmental shoe 02, the segment being slightly less than a quarter of a circle and having a surface corresponding to the surface of the eccentric against which it bears. The connection between the shoe and the piston is a simple rolling or cylindrical joint having no positive attachment, the parts beingheld together by pressure.

D represents the drum of a hoist. keyed upon the shaft A.

Into the cylinder, the passages c, and the chamber a.' is placed a quantity of oil or other suitable liquid. The quantity is such that It is IOO the valve may be .pushed in to occupy the chamber Qa. without exerting any pressure upon the pistons. The function of the clutch as here constructed is to lock the wheel C to the shaft A or drum D.

The operation is as follows: Assuming t-hat the valve is in the position shown iniFig. 2, the wheel C is rotated by pinion C. This rotation causes a reciprocation of the pistons in their cylinders by reason of theleccentric spective cylinders `and ports a and are pre-` vented from proceeding farther. This `sets up friction between the segmental shoes and the eccentric surface sufficient to prevent any slipping. Consequently there is a perfect lock between the-wheel C and the casting B. The casting being keyed to the shaft, the latter must rotate, and thus motion and power are communicatedfrom the pinion C tothe shaft A and thence tothe drum or other load.

The mechanism for operating the valve may be of any suitable character.

e, resting againstthe head of the valve.

locked'at anypoint. `In Fig. 5 I have shown a substitute for this mechanism, consisting of i an electromagnet or-solenoid whose armature is connected with the valve. In this case the tendency of the coiled spring is to force the yvalve inward and the magnet is used to with` draw it. It is understood, vof course, that with the use of a rheostat the armature of the magnet may be moved to any desired extent.

The advantageousfeature of this clutch is` its sensitivenes's. It is obvious that by forcing the valve inward and slightly throttling the circulation of oil there will be more or lessslippin g of theshoes on the eccentric sur-` kfac'e,and the speed of the driven shaft will` be proportionately less than the `speed of the wheelO. Thespeeds may therefore be regulated to a nicety.

-In Figs. 3 and 4 a modification in the Valve mechanism is illustrated. This is `particularly adapted for use at an intermediate location on the shaft. 'It will be observed that themechanism shown in Fig. I is applicable only to the end of the shaft. The modification consists in a separate valve 4for each chamber surrounding the shaft. The valves are all connected witharingf, so `that when the latteris moved all of the valves move to- InfFig. 2 I show a hand-lever E, which isprovided with a lug` By1 means of this, the valve may be forced in# ward against thepressure of the spring and gether to restrict or relieve the passages. Thelrcsult isthe same'inboth instances.

It is well to make note of a peculiar feature in the operation of this device. Vhen there is no lock between the parts, that is, when the pistons are running free and pumping the oil-from one to the other, practically no power is required to force the pistons in, inasmuch as those which are on the inward stroke are aided in their movement by the suction of those on the outward stroke, and the latter are being moved by centrifugal force. No power is therefore wasted when running free.

This clutch willbe found particularly useful in electric locomotives where it is desired that the motor Ashall run continuously'and that the clutch'shall be thrown inl gradually.

Having thus described "my invention, I claiml. The combinationwitha rotating body provided with a 'surface eccentric tothe vaxis of rotation, offa rotatable'elenient concentric to said axis and provided `with a plurality of cylinders, communicating with one another, a piston in each cylinderhavi'ng a bearing against the said eccentric surface, aliquid in the cylinders, and' avalve to cut olf communication between the cylinders.

2. In a clutch, the combination `with "the driving and driven elements, of `a 'plurality of pistons connected 'with oneelementan eccentric surface upon the otherelement acting upon the `said pistons, abody of liquid in circulation between thepistons and a valve for controlling the circulation of said liquid.

3. The combination with a body of liquid, of a plurality of pistons acting thereon, Lthe liquid being incirculation between thepistons, an eccentric surface `acting upon the pistons causing their 'reciprocatiom avalve controlling` the flow of the liquidfandvaA shaft, the pistons being carried bythe shaft, and the eccentric surface being independent of the shaft. q

4.. In a clutch,the combination with the driving and driven elements, of `aplurality of pistons connectedwith one-element an eccentric surface upon the other-element acting upon the said'pistons, a body of liqui'din circulation between the pistons, a 'valvefor controlling the circulation of 'said liquid and means for operating said valve.

5. `In a clutch, the combination of the driving and driven` parts, a` shaft upon whichione part is fixed, said shaft.providedwithpassagesfthrough or across it, `a body of liquid circulating through said lii'assages,l one or more pistons carried by one part'andacting upon the liquid, an eccentricsurface on the other part acting upon the pistons and means for controlling the circulation of the liquid.

6. `In a4 clutch, the combination of the driving and driven parts, a shaft upon which one part is fixed, said shaft provided with passages through or across'it, a `body of liquid IOO IIO

through the axis of rotation, a piston in each cylinder having a bearing against the said eccentric surface, a liquid in the cylinders and a valve adapted to control the communication between the cylinders.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

IMLE E. STOREY.

' Witnesses: l

FRANK S. OBER, EDWARD A. WAGNER. 

